Alaska Airlines has begun preliminary inspections on some of its Boeing 737-9 Max aircrafts this weekend, adding that up to 20 planes could undergo inspection, the company said on Saturday.
29.12.2023 - 12:39 / skift.com / Colin Nagy / Pacific Northwest
Alaska Airlines recently introduced an innovative year-end initiative for its frequent fliers. Instead of the usual “mileage runs” to accumulate miles at the last minute for elite status, the airline now allows customers to purchase carbon offsets to boost their status for 2024.
This move saves passengers time and also discourages unnecessary travel.
Loyalty members can earn 500 elite-qualifying miles for every $100 spent on carbon credits, up to a limit of 5,000 miles. Although this initiative might have gone unnoticed by many, it’s a significant and thoughtful gesture.
Earlier in October, Alaska also embarked on a collaboration with Stumptown, a well-known Pacific Northwest coffeemaker, to create a blend that tastes great even at 30,000 feet. This wasn’t just a publicity stunt; the airline genuinely worked on developing a quality product through extensive tastings, research, and customer feedback. It was a small detail that actually has a ton of impact for those early morning commuters from Seattle down to San Francisco, or on any morning flight where you need a jolt.
Both of these tactics may seem minor, but they are indicative of the airline’s consistent and effective branding strategy. As a frequent flier of some of the world’s best airlines like Qatar, Singapore, and Emirates, I still find Alaska Airlines appealing due to its clear mission.
Its 737s don’t have luxurious flatbed seats like JetBlue or United. There’s not a lot of glitz or glamor.
But it has Pacific Northwest pragmatism, good vibes, and execution – from a cozy fireplace in its new Seattle lounge to the healthy catering in premium cabins.
Employees share the mission, a sharp contrast with other U.S. airlines, where staff often appear irate and at the end of their rope.
A more positive work environment at Alaska Airlines is apparent in my interactions with its employees. In over 100,000 miles of travel with the airline this year, most encounters with flight attendants and staff have been positive. There’s always a little more cheer in the boarding announcement (now boarding group B for “Beautiful!”) or in small interactions. This suggests that the airline treats its staff well, valuing them beyond mere labor.
In my customer service dealings, Alaska consistently exhibits fairness, especially in compensating customers for inconveniences. Proactively, they often issue miles for minor issues like baggage delays or late arrivals, contrasting with other airlines that are much less forthcoming.
In a year where many airlines have devalued loyalty programs or raised the bar for spending, Alaska stands out for still valuing genuine loyalty based on miles flown.
The airline has also made improvements for its top-tier fliers, allowing
Alaska Airlines has begun preliminary inspections on some of its Boeing 737-9 Max aircrafts this weekend, adding that up to 20 planes could undergo inspection, the company said on Saturday.
Alaska Airlines said it will extend its cancellation of Boeing 737 Max 9 flights through Tuesday, Jan. 16, for planes that have been grounded since last week’s mid-air cabin panel blowout.
It's not unusual for passengers to fall asleep on flights, but what happened next for Cuong Tran was decidedly out of the ordinary.
Alaska Airlines will cancel up to 150 flights per day through Saturday on its maligned Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft.
For Alaska Airlines and its passengers, a return to normal may take a while.
A teen passenger had his shirt sucked off his body when the door plug of an Alaska Airlines plane blew away in mid-air last week.
United Airlines has found loose bolts in its own Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft just days after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the planes following a mid-air blowout on Alaska Airlines.
Over the weekend, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded flights on all Boeing 737-9 Max planes following a harrowing incident on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 in which a plug door near the rear of the plane blew out at 16,000 feet, six minutes into a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, causing the cabin to lose pressure. Oxygen masks were deployed, and passengers described a rough ride as the plane quickly returned to the Portland airport; no one was seriously hurt, but several of the 177 people aboard were treated for minor injuries. The incident prompted a sweeping grounding of most of the 215 Boeing 737-9 Max planes that were flying worldwide.
On Friday, a fuselage panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 plane seven minutes after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled and aircraft around the world have been grounded as officials investigate what led to this weekend's in-flight blowout of an Alaska Airlines plane over Oregon.
Alaska Airlines has issued a “flexible travel waiver” across its network following the Boeing 737-9 MAX incident on Friday night, grounding dozens of airplanes for further inspection.
The cockpit voice recorder for Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was overwritten, hampering investigators aiming to determine why a door plug for an exit door on the Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner blew out shortly after the flight took off from Portland on Friday night.